ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog reiterated his appeal to all owners of illegal structures around the Iloilo River to voluntarily remove their structures before the deadline on March 31, 2011 set by the multi-agencies task force and the Iloilo River Development Council or face forcible removal.

“The identified illegal structures, particularly the four structures earlier identified as nuisance per se, will be out by April 1, 2011,” Mabilog said after mobilizing Task Force Asis on what to remove at the Iloilo River.

The city mayor said a notice to vacate the area was already served last week by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) through Cenro Bernabe Garnace to the operator/owner of Barbecue Park, Ryans Seafoods, docking site and occupants of the former Taal barangay hall.

These were earlier served with order of rejection of their application for either foreshore lease agreement (FLA) or miscellaneous lease agreement (MLA).

The demolition of 75 fishpens and fishtraps along the river will also be conducted as soon as the money for livelihood assistance to dislocated fishermen will arrive before the end of March through a special allotment release order from the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of Senator Franklin Drilon.

DENR-CENRO is currently doing a survey on cadastral line along the riverbanks to determine the exact location of riverbank occupants such as commercial establishments, hospitals, schools and houses.

The DENR reported that 54 applied for a commercial space along the riverbank and only 17 have pending applications. Similarly, 79 houses near the old slaughterhouse in South San Jose, Molo were served notices to remove their riverbank dwellings.

Mabilog said the city government is armed with documents and authority to remove all illegal structures in the river and will not hesitate to do so.